25/06/2026
Getting There Slowly and Steadily: My Life Experience
Life is not a sprint; it is a marathon. And in this marathon, some of us begin slower than others. We may appear behind our peers, weighed down by challenges, setbacks, or circumstances beyond our control, perhaps even lacking the support system that could have propelled our growth. But please be sure to hear this clearly: you are not failing. You are building.
I speak from life experience. After my secondary school, I became an apprentice fridge repairer, with no hope of furthering my education. Many nights for two years, I slept outside on a wooden bench in the (Bariga) compound.
On several occasions, my boss punished me by pressing the hot blue flame of a brazing nozzle against my hands with several beatings using electric cables. The scars remain on my hands to this day. I never told my parents, not wanting to burden them with sorrow. I endured in silence.
I vividly remember one defining day. I was pushing a truck (omolanke, as we call it in the Yoruba Language) loaded with a fridge from Bariga to the University of Lagos (Unilag), Akoka, Yaba. Along the way, I met a junior from secondary school who joyfully said, “Senior Femi, Unilag just gave me admission!” His words pierced me. After he left, I parked the truck under a tree, and as tears streamed down my face, I made a solemn vow: I would do everything within my power to attend university, even without a support system. That same week, I trekked from Bariga to Unilag. I entered a classroom at the Faculty of Education, sat quietly, and imagined myself as a student. I even took a picture that day, the picture that birthed my dream and became my source of inspiration.
That dream did not materialize until five years later. By then, I was working as a cleaner, a role I held for nine solid years before finally graduating from the University of Nigeria. Those years in Obanikoro as a Cleaner became my training ground. I mingled with leaders and professionals, absorbing wisdom, and found strength by listening to Success Power by Dr. Sam Adeyemi on the radio.
Though I lacked a strong support system at the early stage of my life journey, I never lost myself. I am deeply grateful to my parents for instilling in me the values of contentment, resilience, perseverance, fear of God, and genuine love for people. These values became my anchor during my lowest seasons.
Every small, consistent action you take is a seed of victory. Trust the process. Do not rush it. In time, you will win. There are seasons when life demands that you go low, seasons of recalibration, reflection, system-building, serving others (sometimes for free), and humility. These are not seasons of shame; they are seasons of preparation. Seasons to REDISCOVER so that you may RECOVER.
Think of great athletes who once lost form at big clubs. They were benched, overlooked, and their value seemed to fade. Yet the bold ones humbled themselves, accepted pay cuts, and joined smaller teams. They fought for playing time, rediscovered their rhythm, and rebuilt their confidence. Soon, the big clubs noticed and came for them. They returned stronger, sharper, and more valuable than ever.
Your journey is no different. Going low is not a defeat. Treat people well, genuinely, with love, both in your low and high seasons. It takes courage to step back, humility to accept where you are, and wisdom to keep your eyes on the bigger picture even in pain. If you don’t have the support system others enjoy, don’t try to go fast. Go slow, but go steady. You are running a different race, and it is not a competition. Never deceive yourself, never fake progress. Respect the principles of growth. Respect the process. And always treat people well in all you do.
Yesterday’s fridge repairer and cleaner has today graduated from several institutions, earning multiple global professional certifications and academic honours. I am not there yet, but I am getting there gradually and steadily.
Growth is not about speed or appearances; it is about direction. It is about discipline. It is about purpose and destiny. When life pushes you down, remember: you are not buried, you are planted. And in time, you will rise higher than you ever imagined.
I hope someone finds courage, strength, and inspiration in this story.
…to be continued.
Femi FORTUNE-IDOWU
(Lead People & Business Partner, Fortbridge HR Consultant)
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